The following words and terms, when used in this subchapter, shall have the following meanings, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.
  (1) Academic Associate Degree--A type of degree program generally intended to transfer to an upper-level baccalaureate program that will satisfy the lower-division requirements for a baccalaureate degree in a specific discipline. The Academic Associate Degree includes, but is not limited to, the Associate of Arts (A.A.), Associate of Science (A.S.), or Associate of Arts in Teaching (A.A.T.) degrees.
  (2) Applied Associate Degree--A type of degree program designed to lead the individual directly to employment in a specific career. The Applied Associate Degree Program includes, but is not limited to, the Associate of Applied Arts (A.A.A.) or Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.).
  (3) Board--The governing body of the agency known as the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.
  (4) Commissioner--The Commissioner of Higher Education.
  (5) Core Curriculum or Texas Core Curriculum--The curriculum in the liberal arts, humanities, sciences, and political, social, and cultural history that all undergraduates of an institution of higher education are required to complete before receiving an academic undergraduate degree. Core curriculum provisions apply to all institutions of higher education that offer academic undergraduate degree programs.
  (6) Directed Electives--A set of courses within a major course of study, consisting of at least six semester credit hours, specific to each general academic teaching institution and prescribed by the faculty of each general academic teaching institution. Directed Electives form part of the Field of Study Curriculum.
  (7) Discipline Foundation Courses (DFC)--A set of courses within a major course of study, consisting of up to twelve (12) semester credit hours. The Discipline Foundation Courses form part of the Field of Study Curriculum.
  (8) Discipline-Specific Subcommittee--A subcommittee established under Title 19, Chapter 1, Subchapter V, §1.242 and §1.243. Each subcommittee is comprised of faculty from general academic teaching institutions and public junior colleges in a single discipline.
  (9) Faculty Member--A person employed full-time by an institution of higher education as a member of the faculty whose primary duties include teaching, research, academic service, or administration. However, the term does not include a person holding faculty rank who spends a majority of the person's time for the institution engaged in managerial or supervisory activities, including a chancellor, vice chancellor, president, vice president, provost, associate of assistant provost, or dean.
  (10) Field of Study Curriculum-- A set of courses that will satisfy lower-division requirements for an academic major at a general academic teaching institution. The Field of Study Curriculum has three components: (a) selected discipline-relevant Texas Core Curriculum courses, (b) the Discipline Foundation Courses, and (c) the Directed Electives.
  (11) General Academic Teaching Institution--An institution of higher education defined in Texas Education Code, §61.003(3).
  (12) Institution of Higher Education or Institution--Any public technical institute, public junior college, public senior college or university, medical or dental unit, other agency of higher education as defined in Texas Education Code, §61.003(8).
  (13) Lower-Division Academic Course Guide Manual (ACGM)--A Board-approved publication listing academic courses that public two-year colleges may teach and report for contact hour reimbursement from state appropriations without special approval from the Board. Courses (except for developmental courses) listed in the ACGM are freely transferable among all public institutions of higher education in Texas in accordance with the Texas Education Code, §61.822.
  (14) Public Junior College--An institution of higher education defined in Texas Education Code, §61.003(2).
  (15) Texas Common Course Numbering System (TCCNS)--A Board-approved course numbering system for lower-division academic courses that assigns common course numbers in order to facilitate the transfer of lower-division academic courses among institutions of higher education by promoting consistency in course designation and identification.
  (16) Texas Transfer Advisory Committee--The advisory committee established under Title 19, Chapter 1, Subchapter V. The Texas Transfer Advisory Committee has responsibility for advising the Commissioner and Board on Field of Study Curricula, including their establishment and revision. The Texas Transfer Advisory Committee may request to form a Discipline-Specific Committee to assist in the development of a Field of Study Curriculum.

Source Note: The provisions of this §4.23 adopted to be effective April 8, 2021, 46 TexReg 2209; amended to be effective May 16, 2024, 49 TexReg 3239